Sunday, July 20, 2014

The San Diego Padres entered Saturday's game 12 games out in the National League West. A strong pitching staff has been unable to overcome an offense that is 30th in the Major Leagues in runs scored, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. There is some news on the injury front, which could help the staff and the offense later this second half of the season. Pitchers Andrew Cashner and Robbie Erlin, as well as shortstop Everth Cabrera, are all improving in their recoveries from injury.

Our own Raymond Bureau reported on July 2 that Cashner, who last pitched on June 18 due to soreness in his right shoulder, was ready to begin a throwing program. At the time there was no timetable for his return.

An update on Cashner, as reported by Dennis Lin at utsandiego.com, was that he resumed his throwing program on Saturday. Cashner stopped throwing for two weeks because of a sore neck. His shoulder and neck issues have improved to the point that Cashner can throw, but there is still no timetable for his return.

Cashner has pitched for the Cubs and
Padres in his five-year career. He's 2-6 with a 2.36 ERA this season.
Cashner was a 10-game winner last season with a 3.09 ERA in 31
appearances. He has a career record of 17-25 with a 3.30 ERA.

In other injury news, Everth Cabrera, who has been out with a hamstring injury, will run the bases today and could begin a rehab assignment tomorrow with Double-A El Paso. Cabrera is batting .218 with three home runs, 16 RBI and 13 stolen bases this season.

As for Erlin, the left-hander has been out since mid-May with an elbow injury. He's scheduled to pitch in a simulated game on Tuesday. Erlin is 3-4 with a 4.53 ERA this season and has a career record of 6-7 with an ERA of 4.31..